(Des Moines, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) has been made aware of a potential scam targeting Food Assistance recipients who use electronic benefit transfer (EBT). There have been reports of recipients receiving a text message which advises them their EBT funds are expiring and immediate deposit is required. It then asks them to click on a link to “apply” for benefits, at which point it asks for personal information.

Iowa does not use mobile messaging to share information with EBT recipients. This is a scam. Recipients are advised NOT to click on a link or provide any personal information. 

Police in Council Bluffs report an arrest has been made in connection with the robbery last Sunday morning, of the Mega Saver Store at 3540 W. Broadway, in Council Bluffs. Authorities said today (Friday), that with help from tips by the public, along with information provided by patrol officers, detectives were able to identify the suspect as 22-year old Ahmed A. Ibar, of Council Bluffs.

Ahmed Ibar

An arrest warrant was applied for and signed on Wednesday. This (Friday) morning, Ibar was located and taken into custody. He was transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail without incident, and is charged with Robbery in the 1^st degree, Felon in Possession of a firearm, Ongoing criminal conduct, and Theft in the 4^th degree.

Officers were called a little after 8-a.m. Sunday to the store. When they arrived, a station attendant said that a black male had entered the business wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with dark sleeves. After entering, the suspect walked around the counter and pointed a silver handgun at the attendant,and demanded money. The suspect went to both registers and took money from both registers. The suspect left the area, running northwest, from the area.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 10-a.m. today (Friday), of a Red Oak man on a felony sexual assault charge. 19-year old Rodrigo Lemus-Silva was taken into custody on a charge of Sexual Assault in the 3rd degree, as the result of an incident that allegedly occurred during the early morning hours of Monday (Oct. 8th). Lemus-Silva was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $10,000 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A lucky player could soon overcome remarkably bad odds to win the nation’s ninth-largest lottery jackpot. Numbers will be drawn Friday night for a chance at the estimated $548 million Mega Millions prize. The jackpot has been growing since July, when a group of California office workers won $543 million. It only costs $2 to play the game, but the odds of instant wealth aren’t good. The chance of matching all six numbers and winning the jackpot is one in 302.5 million.

The $548 million jackpot refers to the annuity option, paid out over 29 years. Most winners opt for cash, which for tonight’s (Friday night’s) drawing would be an estimated $309 million. Mega Millions is played in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Atlantic, IA – The October session of Healthy U will be held Thursday, October 18, at Cass County Health System. The program, The Medication Experts will be presented by two CCHS pharmacists, Crystal Starlin, PharmD, and Sara Arnold, PharmD. They will be discussing several areas of medication safety and education, including Ask 3 Teach 3, Medication Reconciliation and appropriate use of antibiotics.  “Medications play a critical role in healthcare and have become more complex and diverse over the years,” Crystal noted. “It is important that patients partner with their healthcare providers and pharmacists to ensure medications are used effectively and safely.”

Crystal Starlin, PharmD, and Sara Arnold, PharmD

Crystal has served as the Pharmacy Director since joining CCHS in 2006; Sara has been a staff pharmacist at CCHS since 2009. Together, they provide pharmacy oversight for all medications issued in the hospital for inpatients and patients receiving outpatient treatments.

Healthy U will be offered at both 7:30 am and noon on Thursday, October 18. Healthy U is a free educational series at Cass County Health System held monthly in Conference Room 2. The public is invited and welcome to attend, but reservations are required as a meal is provided for all attendees. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, October 13, 2018, to honor a fallen U.S. sailor killed during World War II. Navy Seaman 2nd Class Bernard V. Doyle, of Red Cloud, Nebraska, was killed in action on December 7, 1941, when the USS Oklahoma was attacked by Japanese aircraft at Pearl Harbor. The 19-year-old was classified as non-recoverable until March 2018. Doyle’s remains were returned to his family for burial in Lake City, Iowa, with full military honors.

Saturday, October 13, 2018: Mass of Christian burial at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Lake City, IA – 11 a.m.

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.